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Psyllium
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The husk of Psyllium is the actual coating of mucilage around the seed. It is considered pure dietary fiber and is the only part of the plant used in manufacturing Psyllium products. Its nutritional value consists mainly of glycosides, proteins, polysaccharides, vitamin B1, and choline. The seed itself is made up of 40% Linoleic Acid (LA), an important fatty acid essential to health. The husk is composed mostly of a fiber called hemicellulose which is a complex carbohydrate found in whole grains, fruits and vegetables. Hemicellulose is undigestible... it is partially broken down in the colon and feeds the friendly intestinal flora.
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Psyllium is a seed/husk from the plantain plant (not the source of plantains) used as an intestinal cleanser, bulk laxative, and stool softener. Psyllium is used to treat/relieve constipation, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Crohn's disease, hemorrhoids, and other intestinal disorders. High fiber foods ... help to reduce high blood pressure, heart disease, cholesterol, and weight (obesity).
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Psyllium is available in powder, tablet, capsule, and chewable wafer form. It is ... used to increase the fiber content of some cereals. Most often, psyllium powder is mixed with water or juice, then stirred and drunk quickly before the liquid thickens. Doses range between 4 and 20 grams per day as needed (a level teaspoon is about 5 grams.) In any form, it must be taken with plenty of water (1 or 2 glasses per 3.5 grams.) To avoid bloating and gas, it is recommended to start with a lower dose and increase it as the body adjusts. Psyllium is a common ingredient in laxatives, which Americans spend hundreds of millions of dollars on per year. These laxatives are available over the counter and by prescription.
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Psyllium is mostly soluble dietary fiber but it is ... rich in water-absorbing mucilage, which is not broken down in the digestive tract. Psyllium adds bulk to stools, absorbs excess liquids in the intestines and speeds bowel transit time. Psyllium’s regulation of blood cholesterol and blood sugar levels may be due to effects on cholesterol-containing bile and digestion of carbohydrates. In a recent triple-blind study (subjects, researchers and statisticians all were unaware of who was getting what), 17 \"nonrestrained eaters\" tested psyllium for its effects on appetite. Taking 20g of seed granules with seven ounces of water, three hours prior to and again immediately before a meal, caused a significant increase in the feeling of fullness and a reduction in the consumption of fat and calories. Psyllium may also help to prevent fluctuations in blood sugar and could therefore be of benefit to diabetics.
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Psyllium is used in such pharmaceutical products such as “ Fiberall”, “Metamucil”, “Effersyllium” (USA), “Bonvit” (Australia), “Fybogel” (UK) and in other commonly used bulk laxatives. It is used (as an ingredient) in high-fiber breakfast cereals (for example “Heartwise”, “Bran Buds”) and as a thickener - in ice cream and frozen desserts. Psyllium mucilage is used ... as a natural dietary fiber for animals. In India the part of the seed that remains after the milling is used as chicken forage and cattle feed, as it is rich in starch and fatty acids.
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Psyllium is well studied as a lipid-lowering agent with generally modest reductions seen in blood levels of total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein ("bad cholesterol"). Effects have been observed following eight weeks of regular use. Psyllium does not appear to have significant effects on high-density lipoprotein ("good cholesterol") or triglyceride levels. Because only small reductions have been observed, people with high cholesterol should discuss the use of more potent agents with their healthcare provider. Effects have been observed in adults and children, although long-term safety in children is not established.
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Psyllium